2024 NFL Week 13: Hart’s Picks

For Week 12 of the NFL season, Mile High Report’s Christopher Hart picked 8 of 13 games correctly. Here are his straight up picks for Week 13.

Happy Thanksgiving y’all!

For my Week 12 slate of picks, I picked only 8 of 13 games correctly. Through 12 weeks, I’m at 117-63. That’s right on the mark for 65-percent on correct picks for the season. This week we are back to a full slate of sixteen games as there are no bye weeks scheduled for Week 13 of the season.

Enjoy your holiday and the trio of games today! Without further ado, here are this week’s picks. Let’s see if I can do better than last week.

Thursday Football (Early Game) – Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions

A longtime NFC North rivalry kickstarts football affairs on Thanksgiving. The Lions are one of the hottest teams in the league fighting for a first-round bye in the playoffs. After a hot start to the year, the Bears have fizzled out completely and are dead last in the division.

Winner: Bears

Thursday Football (Afternoon Game) – New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

Drew Lock appears to be in line to start for the Giants against the Cowboys who are coming off an impressive win over the Washington Commanders. Neither of these teams are that good, but I’ll take the Cowboys at home in this one.

Winner: Cowboys

Thursday Night Football – Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers

The Dolphins are two games out of the final wild card spot in the AFC. They need to win on the road on Thursday Night Football to not lose a step in the race. Alas, it appears that this is going to be a snowy gridiron battle, and I think that bodes well for the Packers.

Winner: Packers

Friday Afternoon Football – Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

The Raiders lost last weekend, and quarterback Gardner Minshew is out the rest of the season with a broken collar bone. I don’t expect a team that has lost seven in a row to go into Arrowhead Stadium and pull off a miracle—though that would be fun to watch!

Winner: Chiefs

Sunday Football (Early Game) – Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots

In my opinion, this is a must-win game for the Colts if they want to keep their post-season chances alive. A loss on the road would put them at eight on the year and likely a position to where they’d have to win out to have a shot at the postseason. The Patriots are one of the league’s worst teams, so I think Indianapolis can win on the road.

Winner: Colts

Sunday Football (Early Game) – Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings

The Cardinals need a win on the road in order to keep their co-division lead. The Vikings are an impressive 9-2 and within striking distance of the Lions for the NFC North crown. I’m taking Minnesota at home.

Winner: Vikings

Sunday Football (Early Game) – Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets

The Seahawks are winners of two in a row and the Jets are a franchise in disarray that have lost two straight games. The Seahawks have a formidable ground game, and the Jets have struggled defensively in that respect as of late. I’m taking Seattle here which would give them the outright lead in the NFC West.

Winner: Seahawks

Sunday Football (Early Game) – Tennessee Titans at Washington Commanders

The Titans pulled off an upset against Houston last weekend, but I think their luck runs out going up against Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders. Even so, the Commanders definitely need to tighten things up on defense in the final stretch of games or they won’t go very far in the playoffs—that is if they even make them.

Winner: Commanders

Sunday Football (Early Game) – Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons

The Chargers are coming off a loss to the Ravens and the Falcons have dropped two in a row. Nevertheless, the Falcons are still atop of their division by a one game margin. I think this will be a close game, but I expect Los Angeles to rebound after last week’s performance and maintain their spot in the AFC playoff race.

Winner: Chargers

Sunday Football (Early Game) – Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Coming off an embarrassing loss, the Texans need to get back on track. Luckily, they are facing the Jaguars this weekend and that franchise has lost four in a row. The Texans still have a two-game lead over the Colts in the division. A win this weekend would get them one step closer to clinching the AFC South title.

Winner: Texans

Sunday Football (Early Game) – Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

It’s now or never for the Bengals who are 4-7 and definitely on the outside looking in with respect to the playoffs. The Steelers are coming off a tough loss and need a win to stay in the top spot in the AFC North. I’ll take the road team here which likely closes the book on the Bengals’ playoff hopes.

Winner: Steelers

Sunday Football (Afternoon Game) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers

The Panthers almost pulled an upset last week against the Chiefs and played some inspired football. The Buccaneers need this game to keep up in a super competitive NFC playoff races that has several other teams ahead of them. I’m taking Baker’s boys on the road.

Winner: Buccaneers

Sunday Football (Afternoon Game) – Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints

The Rams need to rebound after last week’s loss and keep up with the rest of the pack in a deadlocked NFC West. After a big losing streak, the Saints have found a way to get back-to-back victories. However, I think the Rams find a way to get a big win on the road and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Winner: Rams

Sunday Football (Afternoon Game) – Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens

This is probably the most interesting matchup with two of the better teams in the NFL going head-to-head. Saquon Barkley has been phenomenal for the Eagles offense and their defense is playing really well. But can they stop Lamar Jackson and Baltimore’s offense at home? I’m not so sure. This is a tough call, but I’m taking the home team.

Winner: Ravens

Sunday Night Football – San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills

The 49ers are losers of two in a row but are still in the NFC West hunt at 5-6. This isn’t a must-win game for them, but a statement victory on the road would give them a much-needed boost of confidence. Unfortunately, the Bills are one of the hottest and best teams in the National Football League. I’m taking Buffalo at home.

Winner: Bills

Monday Night Football – Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos

The 3-8 Browns pulled off an upset last week against the Steelers and are hoping that luck continues when they head on the road for Monday Night Football. The Broncos are in control their own destiny. With five games left to go, they have a two-game lead for the seventh and final spot in the AFC playoff race. I think they keep the positive vibes from the Raiders win going and show up big under the bright lights and get their eighth win of the season.

Winner: Broncos